Safety coin-inlet for slot-machines.



N0. 644,336. Patented Feb. 27, [900. J. SCHWARTZ. SAFETY COIN INLET FOR SLOT MACHINES.

- (Application filed May 18 1899.) (N o M o d e l *m': wms'wzrzns co. PHOTOLITHO WASHINGTON, a c.

NITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SCHWARTZ, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

SAFETY COIN-INLET FOR SLOT-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,336, dated February 27, 1900. Application filed May 18, 1899. $eria1llo. 717,252. (No model.)

To all whom it mag/concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH SCHWARTZ, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of New York, county of New York, and State of New York,'have invented certain new and useful'Improvements in Safety Coin-Inlets for Slot-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a novel coin-inlet forcoin-controlled apparatus, and has special reference to a safety coin-inlet acting as a fraud preventive.

Heretofore there has been usuallyemployed in'coin-controlled apparatus and so-called slot-machines a plain slot in a metal plate located in the upper. portion of the apparatus for the purpose of dropping the coin into the machine, and thereby releasing'the mechanism. However, such plain slots are not preventing fraud. In some instances a coin of less value maybe dropped therein, or in other instances a wire or a narrow strip of metal sheeting may perform the function of releasing the mechanism.

In order to overcome the described deficiencies of coin-controlled apparatus, I have invented a novel safety coin-inlet by means of which it is impossible to release the mechanism except the proper coin be employed for the release of the same.

My improved device is constructed so that it may be applied to any coin-controlled apparatus.

It consists, essentially, of three metal plates mounted on a central pin, which isprovided at its top with a turning-knob, by means of which the central plate can be turned. The plates have circular openings in various portions of such dimension as will suit the coin to be used for the release of the mechanism. The coin -discharge opening in the bottom plate extends on each side laterally, forming two narrow channels parallel to the circumference.

The invention consists, further, in a novel coin-chute and in its combination with other parts of the device.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents the device in top plan view. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the coininlet with the top plate removed. Fig. 3 is a bottom view. Fig. 4 represents a cross-sew tion on line 4 4 of Fig. 1, showing the coinchnte in section below; and Fig. 5 is a detail face view of the chute with coin therein.

Similar letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

A represents the top plate, which is provided with two side flanges at, having one opening each for the passage of securingscrews. The top plate A, Fig. 1, is cut out, leaving a free space a, which is circular in shape near the center of the plate and is enlarged toward its circu mference. In the center the plate A has a small opening, through which the center pin is passed which carries the turning-knob K.

The middle or intermediate plate B is shown in Fig. 2. It is provided with two openings 1) and b, corresponding to the size of the coin. It has a small opening for the passage of the center pin P. On its lower sideit is provided with the small stop 8. p

The bottom plate 0, Figs. 3 and 4, is turned up on its circumference, as is shown in Fig. 4, to such a height as to permit the middle or intermediate plate to rest thereon and to move freely therein without interfering with the top and bottom plates. The bottom plate 0 is provided with two side flanges c, which have one opening, each corresponding with the openings in the side flanges a of the top plate (shown in Fig. 1) and serving the same purpose. In its rear portion the bottom plate is cut out, forming a circular opening 0 of the same size as the openings b and b in the intermediate plate. The circular opening 0 ex tends on both sides, forming two small channels 0 which are parallel with the circumference of the plate and permit the small stop 8 to pass, and at their ends they arrest the free motion of the stop. In its center the plate 0 has a small opening corresponding to the center openings in the plates A and B for the purpose of passing the center pin P through it.

The three plates A, B, and O are mounted on one center pin 1, Fig. 4, in such a manner that the intermediate plate B is rigidly connected thereto, while the top plate A and the bottom plate 0 are loosely mounted. The center pin P carries at the top the turningknob K, and below the bottom plate it is provided with a small opening for the purpose of inserting a small split pin 1), which permits of taking the device easily apart and mounting it quickly.

In the top plate A, as shown in Fig. 1, there are inscribed the words Place nickel, and in the bottom plate,just below the cut-.out portion a of the top plate, there is inscribed the word Here, thus indicating that this coin-inlet is intended to be used on an apparatus whose mechanism is released by a nickel. It is of course understood that the coin-inlet may be built for a cent or for a dime. The circular openingsin the plates then must suit the size of the coin which is intended shall release the mechanism of the apparatus.

In Fig. 4 a coin-chute D is shown below the rear openings of the inlet. It consists of a funnel-shaped top (1, to which is attached a somewhat-inclined coin-guide d, which is shown in detail face view in Fig. 5. The ends of the coin-guide are bent over, so as to take over the outside ends of the coin. The width of the coin-guide suits exactly the diameter of a nickel or other coin, so that a larger coin cannot be put in, and by the inclined position of the coin-guide a smaller coin will drop out sidewise, thus preventing the smaller coin from releasing the mechanism of the apparatus. The coin-guide is provided in its center with a piece of metal sheeting E, by means of which it is secured in the proper position on the apparatus. At its lowerportion the coin-guide is provided with a small piece of metal sheeting F, preferably soldered thereto, for the purpose of throwing sidewise smaller coins should they still fall on the sheet F.

Suppose a nickel is placed in the circular opening, on which appears the word Here, and the knob K is turned. Then the coin is carried along until the stop 8 reaches the end of the second channel a in the bottom plate, when the opening I) in the middle plate will be just above the opening 0 in the bottom plate. Then the nickel will fall down into the coin-chute and release the mechanism of the apparatus. It is plainly understood that the knob K may be turned to the right and to the left. In Fig. 2 the small stop 3 is shown to be in channel 0 on the right side. Hence the knob is turned from right to left. In Fig. 3 it is shown to be on the left side. Hence the knob is turned to the right when another nickel is placed in the opening 1;.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. In a safety coin-inlet for coin-controlled apparatus, the combination of a bottom plate turned up on its circumference and having in its rear portion a circular opening extending on each side laterally and parallel to the circumference into a small channel, with an intermediate plate having in its front and rear portion a circular opening and on its lower surface a small stop, moving in the small channels ofthe bottom plate, a top plate cut out in the front, and a center pin to which the intermediate plate is rigidly connected, as specified.

2. In a safety coin-inlet for coin-controlled apparatus a bottom plate turned up on its circumference and having in its rear portion, a circular opening extending on each side laterally and parallel to the circumference into a small channel, in combination with an intermediate plate having in its front and rear portion a circular opening and on its lower surface a small stop, a top plate cut out in the front, a center pin with knob to which the intermediate plate is rigidly connected, and a coin-ch u te composed of a funnel-shaped top, a coin -guide attached laterally to the funnel and having bent-over edges, and a bent metal strip on the inside lower portion of the coin-guide, as specified.

Signed by me at New York, N. Y., this 17th day of May, 1899.

JOSEPH SCHWARTZ. lVitnesses:

JAMES LICARI, L. K. Bonn. 

